But no matter how happy I was to have my friends back, things just kept getting more complicated.

Harry Clearwater is dead.

That phrase had been running through my head for the last 24 hours, ever since I got the message from Embry. It was a frantic phone call that sounded more like gibberish than English. The only thing that I knew was Harry had died, Seth and Leah were both werewolves and I was being held captive at Emily's house per Embry's request to keep me safe from one of the vampires that was running around or something along those lines.

And I literally mean captive. I was a prisoner. I tried to run and Quil had to sit on me for an hour. Not fun.

My mom thinks I'm at Jessica's. That's what I was told to tell her anyway. I guess she hasn't been paying much attention to my life the last couple of weeks.

I had slept on the couch last night and moped around all morning and now I was having a late lunch with Emily and Kim in the kitchen. There was a werewolf running around the house to protect us and another one inside that was supposed to be keeping watch, but I could hear them snoring from the living room. It was probably Quil.

The door slammed open. I guess it was time for them to switch out. Oh goody, Jacob is back. I could tell by the way the door sounded like it was going to break when it shut. He switched places with Quil and sat down in the living room. He was moping because the object of his unrequited love had run off to find her suicidal vampire boyfriend in Italy.

Yeah I would probably be mopey too. I hesitantly went over to talk to him. Emily shot me a wary look but I waved her off. Jake was one of my best friends. I had to go do something. "Hey buddy." I said softly. He had his permanent frown fixed on his face but he opened his arm up anyway and let me lean into his embrace. "You okay?"

"How could she do this to me? To Charlie? Run off like that not caring about her safety. He just lost his best friend! And now his daughter…"

"She's gonna come back Jake. And then we're going to make her fall in love with you and forget all about that mind reader. I promise." I wish I could make him feel better. I hated seeing him so miserable. "Love you Jake."

He sighs deeply. "Love you too Luce. I'm glad you're here." It had only been two weeks since the night that I found out about the whole werewolf thing, but it felt like nothing had changed between my friends and I.

Well, Quil and Jacob. Jessica was no longer speaking to me, and as for Embry… Well, I don't know what his deal was, but he refused to leave me alone. So I guess he's to blame for my friendship blowing up.

To be honest, my friendship with Jessica was the least of my worries now. I looked at the deep circles under my friend's eyes and wondered when the last time he slept was. "Take a nap, Jake. You're tired."

"I won't be able to sleep. I keep having nightmares." He almost sounded embarrassed that he was admitting that to me.

I pull a pillow onto my lap and push him down onto it. "Just try. I'll wake you up if I think you're having one, okay? You'll be no use to us if you're dead on your feet." And automatically, I start dragging my fingers through the slightly shaggy locks of his fresh hair that had grown out in the past few weeks.

I could feel his breathing start to even out. And then quietly, he mumbles, "Mm, I love you Bella." And drifts off. My heart constricts in my chest and I automatically start to feel even more hatred towards this girl. Jacob was an amazing guy and she was basically ripping out his heart and stomping all over it like it was nothing.

Sometime during my inner ramblings, I must have dozed off, considering that I hadn't slept all night. I only know this because when I woke up to the loud sounds of people entering the house, it was dark outside. Jacob was still sleeping in my lap, snoring just a bit. He was obviously a heavy sleeper and a rock, because both of my legs were numb. My neck also had a kink in it from sleeping with my head slouched to the side.

I tried to stretch out but I couldn't move. Jacob was literally a paperweight. "Jake." I groaned, shoving his shoulder. Nothing. "Get up you lazy ass." Still no response verbally, but he shifted so that his elbow was digging into my leg. Okay, I thought my legs were numb but I could definitely feel that. "Okay, now you're hurting me!"

Suddenly, he flies off my lap and onto the floor with a loud thump. He immediately starts complaining and I look at my sort of saviour. Of course it's Embry. "What the hell, man?" Jacob growls.

"You were hurting her." Embry growls back.

I stand up and stretch, feeling much better now that I can finally move. "Okay Embry, you didn't have to go all WWE on Jacob. Just because you're a werewolf doesn't mean you can fling your friends around whenever you feel like it." I'm trying to joke with him because he's been so tense lately, but he just stares at me with a hard face. I sigh, waving my body at him. "I'm fine! Physically, at least…I'm going stir crazy. I want to go home."

"No." He says.

Someone else answers from across the room. "I don't see why she can't go home. There's no immediate threat right now and there's always someone outside. It's perfectly fine if she wants to leave." It was Sam and he had an authoritative tone to his voice.

Embry looked absolutely betrayed but I couldn't help but rush over to Sam in excitement and throw myself at his body. "Oh thank God. Sam, I love you." I gushed.

Emily is laughing lightly at my antics and he just smiles at me like someone would smile at their goofy little sister. "Embry, take my truck and get her home." He calls. Embry still looks pissed. "Oh don't give me that face. You basically live next door to her. You'll know if anything happens to her. Now go."

He tosses the keys to his truck over my head and Embry catches them reluctantly. I find myself smiling at his sour look and bump my shoulder against his arm. "Take me home now? I'll even let you walk me to the door."

He finally cracks a smile. "Wow, what an honour. Come on." He gently leads me out of the house with his hand on the crook of my back.

We pass Paul and Jared coming out of the forest and Paul is shooting daggers at me. I muster up my nastiest glare and stare back. "Watch where you're putting your hands, Call." He snaps.

"Step down oh mighty big brother. He can put his hands wherever he wants." I say automatically. Paul starts to shake and Embry is grinning like a madman and I finally realize what I've said and I flush. "Not like that assholes! God, you men are all the same!" I exclaim, throwing myself into the truck door that Embry is holding open.

The ride home is silent. It reminds me of old times when I used to hang out with Embry and he used to just be silent and calculating. He would stare out the window or stare ahead of him while walking. But this time he looks troubled and frustrated. I have the strangest urge to hug him.

But, I don't. We have set up boundaries. I don't know what his deal is and why he's so obsessed with me but I don't tolerate it. I don't let him try and kiss me or cuddle with me. I will occasionally let him hug me or hold my hand but only once I give him a stern reminder that we are just friends.

He grins like the Cheshire cat every damn time.

I tend to enjoy his company as much as I would never admit that to him out loud. The Embry I used to know was quiet and kept to himself, which I never minded. But this new Embry, or the Embry that was hiding from me and that has finally decided to step out of the spotlight, is fun. He's almost witty like Quil and playful just like Jake. Sometimes, he can talk my ear off and other times we just sit in silence. I get the best of both worlds with him.

Sometimes I think that I like it too much.

I shake myself out of my thoughts as we pull up to my house. As promised, I let him walk me to the door. "Are you heading home after this?" I ask him as we stand outside.

"Nah. I gotta return the truck to Sam and then I have a shift around 2." He sounds tired and I know he'll be out until at least 6am. I frown and find myself touching the bags under his eyes. Even though it's Spring Break and he doesn't have to worry about getting up for school, I'm still worried. He can tell I'm concerned because he smiles. "Don't worry Lucy. All the guys are exhausted; it's not just me. Plus I would rather run myself all night that lie in bed and wonder if you're safe. No question."

Ugh! I hate the fluttery feeling in my chest that happens when he says something sweet. It makes me want to do stuff that I definitely shouldn't do. Nevertheless, I end up giving him a tiny smile. "Thanks Embry." And then out of gratitude, I stretch up on my tiptoes and lean up to press a kiss against his cheek.

On my way back down, his warm hand grabs my face and turns it so that he can catch my lips with his own. It's a quick kiss, soft and sweet, and when he pulls away, my brain is muddled. "No, thank you." He breathes.

"You broke the boundaries." I chide half-heartedly, trying to regain feeling in my body.

He smiles brilliantly. "Worth it." And then he turns around and gets in the truck and drives away.

I finally make my way inside a couple minutes later. Damn it, Embry Call. Immediately feeling the weight of the last couple days, I crawl into bed. Even though I just had like a six-hour nap with Jacob on the couch, I'm still tired. It's only around nine, but I cuddled up in my blankets and drift off anyway.

When I do slowly open my eyes, I look at my alarm clock and find that it's only a little after three in the morning. Of course I feel well rested and wide-awake because I've basically been sleeping for twelve hours, so I sit up and stretch. It's hopeless to think I'm going to fall back asleep.

I glance at my window and let myself wonder is Embry is out there. Curiously, I peel back my curtains and am not exactly surprised to see a slender grey wolf with black spots curled up against a tree. He looks like he's taking a nap and I giggle to myself because he's probably not supposed to be here. He looks up when I tap on the glass and I wave at him, partially in greeting and partially to remind him to get his ass back on patrol.

He climbs to his feet, lets out a small howl and takes off running. Closing the curtain after him, I climb back into bed and lay there in the dark, staring at the ceiling and willing myself to go back to sleep.

It takes a while, but I do drift off for a few hours and by the time I wake up again, it's a little after eight and actually an acceptable time to get up and start my day. I come downstairs and my mom almost dies of shock. "It's before noon on Spring Break and you're awake? Am I in the Twilight Zone?" She mocks me. I roll my eyes playfully as she offers me breakfast.

It's eggs and bacon with a side of toast. I wolf it down, not realizing that it's been way too long since I last ate. When I'm done, I put my dishes away but I start to feel antsy. "I think I might go for a walk." I say to my mom.

She raises her eyebrows but she doesn't question me. I zip up a jacket and head out on an adventure. It's early enough that I don't expect to see anyone that I know, but of course the world hates me and I spot Jessica. She has a bag in her hand so she's coming home from the store. She looks at me and I wave meekly, but she gives me a glare that could burn holes into my head and looks away.

"Alright, that's it." I mutter to myself and march over to her. "Jessica, I don't know what your problem is with me but I have done nothing to you! So either tell me what is making you so pissy or stop glaring at me!"

"Oh you did nothing wrong. Right, of course, because you're so innocent Lucille." She snaps and I realize she called me by my full name. Okay she's pissed. "You abandoned me just like them. And you're seeing Embry literally just weeks after he broke my heart! I thought you were my best friend but then again I thought that about the guys too and they did this to me as well so I guess I shouldn't be surprised!"

Seeing Embry? "Jess, Embry and I are just friends like we've always been. Nothing is going on between us."

She laughs and the sound is dry. "Friends that kiss, right. I saw you so don't even try to lie to me! And then you come over here and act all innocent like you think I'm an idiot or something!"

"I'm so sorry… I never meant to hurt you, I just…" I don't even know how to finish that sentence. What?

"Oh just leave it. We aren't friends anymore, so whatever. Do me a favour and stop talking to me. Have fun with your cult." And then she stomps off in a huff and I can tell she's crying too.

Losing the desire to go anywhere, I slowly start to walk home in shock. How could I be so stupid as to think Jessica wouldn't notice Embry's obsession with me? And I just ditched her for them. I'm literally the worst friend in the world.

I approach my house and who else is standing outside of it but Paul. He looks like he wants to eat me. "Going for a leisurely walk while there's a vampire roaming around, sounds like a great idea right? Are you that stupid!?" He snarls.

I'm not in the mood. So I just stare at him and say "Sorry." I don't say anything else because I can feel the tears in the back of my throat.

"What's wrong?" He asks. "What did that fucker do?" He's obviously talking about Embry.

I just shrug. "He didn't do anything. I want to go inside."

"Lucy, talk to me."

I want to scream. "Why do you always have to bug me? Leave me alone for once! You and your stupid friends basically ruined my life, and you're always butting into my business, and now my best friend hates me! I hope Embry is extremely happy with himself!" He just stares at me. "You wanted to know what was wrong, so there you go. Now get lost, you don't even live here anymore."

And then I slam the door in his face.